Road and Track does a one on one shootout between the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X and it's competitive doppelganger, the 2007 Subaru WRX STi.
This time it seems, the Evo wins hands down, despite being bigger, fatter and less powerful. I reckon that speaks volumes just how good the all new Evo is, and speaks even more, just how much the all new STi isn't.
Other blogposts on the Mitsubishi Lancer: search?q=lancer
This must be some of the best news I've heard in a long time. Mitsubishi's finally going to introduce a bona fide baby Evo, along the lines of the 200hp Lancer GSR of the 90s.
If it sets its sights on the new and fugly 220hp Subaru WRX 5-door hatch, it's going to be priced around S$90K in Singapore. And that's only S$15K more than a Honda Civic 2.0 and less than a mid-range Camry, Accord or Cefiro.
I might not be able to bring myself to splurge on a S$140K Evo X, but for $50K less, the 235hp Lancer Ralliart might just tweak my loins.
2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart - Road & Track
Mitsubishi's Lancer Ralliart bridges the gap between the economy-car-like Lancer and the ultra-hyper Lancer Evolution. The Ralliart uses the same 4B11 2.0-liter 16-valve turbocharged and intercooled 4-cylinder as the Evolution, but with a more modest (and estimated as of this time) 235 bhp and 253 lb.-ft. of torque. It also uses Mitsubishi's MIVEC variable valve timing and, get this: Like the Evo, the Ralliart will be fitted with a full-time all-wheel-drive system, employing Mitsubishi's Active Center Differential (ACD) with three driver-programmable settings: Tarmac, Gravel and Snow.
If that's not tech-geekie enough for you, how about the fact the Ralliart comes with Mitsubishi's awesome new Twin Clutch-SST gearbox (also as in the Evo) that allows the driver to shift manually via steering-column-mounted paddles. Or, it can simply be left in full automatic operation.
More aggressively styled front and rear bumpers, a dual exhaust and an aluminum hood with air intakes differentiate the Ralliart from the standard Lancer.
Basically, with the Lancer Ralliart, Mitsubishi is taking dead-aim at Subaru's Impreza WRX — looks to us like it's a direct hit.
It is S$138,000 (equivalent to RM317,000) in Singapore. That's about 15K more than the Subaru WRX STi S204.
But then, Subaru farked up real bad with the aesthetics of the new WRX.
The 5-speed manual was reviewed. The 6-speed DSG will only reach Singapore next year. But next year's only 2 weeks away.
These are supposed to be pages (some pages are missing) from the JDM brochure of the upcoming Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (2008 Lancer review here). They are said to have been leaked out to the net. Have not verified the authenticity although it looks genuine enough. For the source, refer to the watermark on the top left of each page.
"276"hp @ 6500rpm and 422NM @ 3500rpm. It tops the performance of not only the IX, but also the tuned FQ300. With peak power unchanged at 6500rpm like its predecessors, it seems that my prediction of a higher power band due to the square 4B11 engine has not panned out. But let's wait to see the definite specs when it's finally launched.
Personally, I like the black 'Top of Evo' on page 25.
Visited the local Mitsubishi dealer over the weekend, and took some photos of the just-launched Lancer 2.0GT.
Here's the price list.
It is indeed RM 116K on the road with insurance. Comes with Nappa leather seats, 18" alloy wheels, Yokohama A010 tyres, 6-CD player, full bodykit & spoiler, dual airbags and 3 years free maintenance warranty.
Like I said, I like that nose. And I'd paint the entire central part (grill, bumper and lip) black like the upcoming Evo X. There are even lines on the bumper telling you which parts to paint.
Nice sporty silhouette. Side skirts are not too overstated with holes and rice boy shit.
I'd rather not have the old-fashioned silver finish on the grill. Nothing a little black paint won't take care of. See the downward lines from the lower edges of the grill? The Evo X has that part in black.
The butt of an Alfa 156. None too original, but not a deal breaker for me. I'm feeling so-so about the spoiler.
Note the 2.0GT badge on the lower right side of the boot lid. The boot lid feels super, super solid. The doors however still shut with the typical Japanese characteristic of having to slam it to close properly.
Front twin pot calipers and rotor. The rotor is huge, trust me... but the 18" wheel is even bigger. Previous Evos used to come with 17" wheels standard. These wheels will probably fit the Evo X's four pots and super-supreme pan pizza brake rotors.
Rear single pot calipers and rotor looking diminutive in those 18" wheels despite breaching 300mm diameter.
I would have preferred 17" wheels, instead of 18". Lighter and cheaper tyres. 18" tyres are RM400 ppc for the 'not very performance' models. Be prepared to pay ~RM800 ppc for good, grippy tyres.
Engine bay looks exactly the same as the US spec Lancer GTS. Comes standard with the strut bar.
Engine bay again. Note the regular, old design wiper stalks instead of the bigger, flatter ones that supposedly resist lifting during high speeds.
Back facing exhaust manifold. Notice the ample space to tuck in a turbine, wastegate and a proper extractor.
Nice, sporty deep sunken dials. 234km on the odometer. 24 miles to get onto the ship in Japan, off the ship at Port Klang and 210km to Ipoh.
Typical plasticky Lancer dash. Forgettable.
Leather bound gear knob without sequential shift gates (that's what the paddles are for). I noticed the beautiful stitching on the leather bits.
Chunky, beefy steering wheel. Like a Momo, beautiful to the touch.
I like the magnesium paddle shifters too.
Closer look at the paddle shifters.
View from the back seat. My pals remarked that the back is not as spacious as the new Civic, mainly because the rear wheel wells still intrude significantly into the cabin.
And if you look at the big overhangs in front and behind the wheelbase, you'd conclude that the Lancer is not as efficient as the Civic in turning its bulk into cabin space.
Very comfy and reasonably huggy leather seats. NOT to be used without airconditioning, or I'll guarantee that you'll soak your underwear.
Boot space is so-so only. I'd judge it to be the same as the Wira. The opening is lower and larger though, so you'll have an easier time putting bulky stuff in.
Regular halogen bulbs. No HID for the 2.0GT.
Other posts about the new 2008 Lancer:
Lancer 2.0GT (ie. GTS) launched in Malaysia
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer - Specifications-only Review and Launch Videos
The new 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer finally comes to our shores.
Mitsubishi Malaysia is calling it the 2.0GT, which is essentially the same spec as the top of the line GTS, sold in the US. I'm glad Mitsubishi Malaysia decided to bring in the highest end model, rather than one of the 2 lower specced ones.
And I'm even more delighted that Mitsubishi is pricing it at RM113,000 on the road w/o insurance. That's not much more than the previous Lancer 1.6 GLX. And only 2K more than a Honda Civic.... 1.8S! It's closest competition (in terms of performance and imho, desirability) is the Civic 2.0S and that is priced at a whopping 12K more (10%).
Honda die-hards might say that Hondas are worth paying 10% more for. Compared to the previous Lancers... I'd agree. But this new Lancer... with the exact same engine dimensions (1998cc and a square 86mm x 86mm) as the Civic 2.0S, much the same 150+hp, stronger bodyshell than the homologated Evo IX, twin pot 294mm front disc brakes + 302mm rear, 6 speed CVT vs 5 speed torque converter in the Civic and its R34 GTR nose... I'd have to say, "Not this time, buddy!"
With so much CBU (100% imported from Japan) 2.0 car for a price that would only get you a homely CKD (Completely Knocked Down or locally assembled) 1.8 Toyota Altis or Honda Civic, this has to be my car-pick for Malaysia this year. If you're looking to buy a car soon, it'd be a crime not to buy this one.
Read also:
Lancer 2.0GT (Malaysia) - First Looks
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer - Specifications-only Review and Launch Videos
There are 2 versions of the 2007 Civic Type R (CTR).
One is of course the much vaunted EURO version which will be available in Europe (of course), the US, Australia and all other Type R approved countries outside Japan (there aren't that many). Singapore is bringing in this EURO 3-door hot-hatch that has virtually taken the world by storm due to it's aero-turd styling and Citroen-esque touches of inspirational quirkiness.
All countries outside Japan will be importing the 2-door EURO FN2 CTR hatch... well, all except one. First time Type R approved Malaysia will be bringing in the other version... the JDM (Japan Domestic Market) 4-door FD2 CTR based on the existing 2006 Civic sedan being sold in Asia, which we are already very familiar with.
So, Honda Singapore sells the Euro CTR and Honda Malaysia sells the JDM CTR. This presents some unique opportunities for Honda enthusiasts in both countries to compare the performance of the 2 different versions. And the fact that the 2 countries are connected by 2 bridges (making cross border driving commonplace), both of which in turn connect to a 700km long, 'lightly monitored' expressway - virtually guarantees upcoming traffic light drags, top speed and power shootouts.
But since the Singapore launch was only back in May and the Malaysia launch was a scant few days ago, it'll be weeks before real life shootouts occur and get posted in the car forums. [Update 29/9/07: here's a shootout from Fifth Gear]
However, we can always draw a pretty accurate conclusion by comparing the specifications of the 2 cars. Specs never lie and the laws of physics are never wrong.
So let's compare the specifications posted on the websites of Honda Singapore and Honda Malaysia in order to see which version of the CTR will come out tops in the performance stakes.
Both cars are packed with the potent and perfectly square K20A i-Vtec engine (86mm x 86mm resulting in 1998cc, exactly the same dimensions as the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer's 4B11 - which will power the upcoming Evo X as well).
Have a look at Temple of Vtec Asia (TOVA... one of the best Vtec websites known to man, imho) for a detailed analysis of the K20A i-Vtec spec R in the FD2 JDM version CTR.
A quick look of the specs shows that the JDM version outputs nearly 10% more power than the Euro (225ps vs 201ps). That's a big difference from what are essentially identical factory stock engines.
The JDM gets all this extra power by having vastly different engine management mapping compared to the Euro. The former's 11.7 compression is considerably higher than the Euro's 11.0. Peak power also comes higher up in the rpm range (8,000rpm vs 7,800rpm). Same with peak torque (6,100rpm vs 5,600rpm). All this indicates much edgier and balls-out performance mapping for the JDM. I'm not sure if the 97 RON petrol in Malaysia will dampen power output though.
The other major determinant of a car's performance is its weight. Even with 2 extra doors and a boot, JDM again pips Euro by weighing 75kgs less (1270kg vs 1345kg). That's about equivalent to a pretty large, hairy adult male sitting in your car all day, everyday.
Therefore, based on these 2 basic (but undeniable) factors of power and weight - it is my reckoning that the JDM CTR - with 10% more power and 6% less weight - will outrun the Euro CTR everytime and anytime. And with proper double wishbone rear suspension versus a reincarnation of antiquated torsion beam technology, I think the JDM will out-handle the Euro as well [Update 29/9/07: The Fifth Gear shootout reckons a 3s gap over a 100s lap].
Hmmm... looks like this shootout is a no-brainer. Hands down walkover for the Malaysian JDM CTR over the Singaporean Euro CTR. And Malaysians get their Type R cheaper as well.
Additional reading:
- Yes, it’s a radical new concept... the boneshaker - Jeremy Clarkson on the Euro CTR.
